Lot 63: A RARE EMPIRE MAHOGANY AUDIENCE MANTLE TIMEPIECE WITH EQUATION WORK, ANTIDE JANVIER, 4

, PARIS, CIRCA 1805 5-3/4-inch white enamel chapter ring calibrated twice from I to XII, similar white enamel subsidiary dial calibrated from 1-10, centered by another white enamel dial for ages of the moon, lunar hand with revolving blued moon and sidereal hand with sun pointer, rectangular aperture below fitted with a centregrade thermometer in an arch (possibly associated), the plaque signed Janvier a Paris, circular plates signed Janvier, anchor escapement, the case with sloping pediment and raised on gilt- brass block feet. Antide Janvier born in 1751 and died in 1835 was one of the most celebrated clockmakers of late 18th and early 19th century France. He was elevated to the position of clockmaker to the King in 1784 and this title was confirmed when the Bourbon dynasty returned in 1814. During the 1790's, Janvier investigated decimal time for the Revolutionary government. For one of his many wonderful creations, a pair of armillary-form astronomical timepieces, see, Masterpieces from the Time Museum, Sotheby's New York, December 2, 1999, lot 65.